BOND notes are finally out.
Preliminary scepticism on Monday morning turned into acceptance as the day progressed.
By Tuesday, everyone was asking ririkupiko Bond tinoridawo/ kanti lingaphi iBond lakhona siyalifuna?
Zimbabweans have embraced the Bond note which was introduced to ease cash crisis and as an incentive to exporters despite attempts by opposition groups to discredit the surrogate currency.
Opposition parties had sought to achieve political gains by rejecting the Bond note.
But they were on their own.
Povo yaramba zvemadhisinyongoro.
Vanhu vemuZimbabwe vasvinura, varamba kushandiswa was the message sent to the Tajamuka and MDC groups organising a demonstration in the Capital.
And the demo was a monumental flop.
Because vana vevhu/abantwana bomhlabathi have since realised that Reserve Bank Governor Dr John Mangudya was right; bond notes are there to help the public and boost production.
The cornerstone of economic development of any country is production of goods and services.
The Bond note seeks to incentivise exporters of goods and services
In Zimbabwe, the problem is that the domestic industry is not producing enough to meet local demand and effectively export.
Therefore the introduction of Bond notes is to stimulate exports and increase foreign exchange earnings.
We have been operating under a basket of currencies even though in reality the basket has tended to carry just one currency which is the US dollar which comes to us only to the extent of our export earnings.
Zimbabwe had become a dumping ground for imports with products such as wheelbarrows reportedly being imported from China and landing at US$3 cost.
Zimbabwe is the only country in Africa using the US dollar as a trading currency and not a reserve currency.
People from all over the world were now venturing into our country to cream off our little foreign currency earnings.
We could not allow that to continue.
Hence the Bond note that will limit the importation of commodities that can be produced locally.
This will go a long way in helping revive local industry that has been facing stiff competition from imports.
The high demand for local products will translate into high employment levels.
This is so because consumption of locally produced commodities creates demand for local labour and contributes towards the reduction of unemployment.
As the country leans towards local products, it is also pertinent that help be urgently availed to ailing companies through the Distressed and Marginalised Area Fund (Dimaf).
We need to protect our own.
We must support our own.
And the only way we can achieve this is to increase our exports and reduce our imports.
This is achievable if we protect our industries and consume our products.
Let us promote our local businesses.
None but ourselves can save our situation
We are our own saviours.
It is time we put aside our differences and work for the motherland.
Those in authority are trying to do everything possible to get the economy back on track and it does not make sense to pull in a different direction.